cross-posted from the Georgia Tenth Amendment Center
Georgia is one of the first states to seek an alternative to “No Child Left Behind”, according to this article from the Georgia Department of Education’s website. Remove the burden of the Federal Government’s inefficient, non-attainable goals outlined in NCLB, and the states can move to create a program that can improve the quality of education for all students:
“Through Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index, we will be able to use multiple indicators to determine a school’s overall impact on our students”, said Superintendent Barge. “This approach will do more to ensure that the K-12 experience provides students with the academic preparation to compete globally, as well as the career development skills aligned with the evolving requirements of our workforce.”
Appendix B from the Request for Waiver to the USDOE Secretary Duncan, outlines the negative result if the current path is not altered, and highlights the equitable results of embarking on the new Georgia CCRPI plan:
Using current AYP indicators the number of schools in Needs Improvement status would
continue to escalate. Our proposed GaCCRPI provides an analysis that would detect variability
among the levels of need for schools within each NI consequence level and allow for differentiated support services.For each category of Needs Improvement, an analysis will be done at the state level to identify
the specific areas of need. Based on those results, a second determination will guide the
interventions, which will result in strategic support services that are best suited to the needs of
specific students and schools.
A portion of the full press release is below:
Georgia Seeks Alternative to No Child Left Behind
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.orgSeptember 21, 2011 — U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge yesterday personally delivered Georgia’s request for a waiver to certain provisions of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and an alternative, to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Georgia is one of the first states seeking a waiver from some of the requirements within NCLB. The State requests permission to replace NCLB with Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) for each public school, school district, and the state for the 2011 – 2012 school year. This CCRPI determination will vary based upon grade levels. However, it will measure the extent to which a school, school district, and the state are successfully making progress on a number of accountability indicators such as content mastery, student attendance, and the next level of preparation.
Governor Nathan Deal said, “The College and Career Ready Performance Index developed by Dr. Barge and his team at the Georgia Department of Education moves us in the right direction for 21st century accountability. Rather than focusing on one test given on one school day, the CCRPI takes a comprehensive look at the things that go into making successful elementary, middle and high schools. I commend Dr. Barge and Sen. Isakson for personally delivering this important request, and I’m appreciative of Secretary Duncan’s willingness to entertain accountability waivers from states. I wholeheartedly support Georgia’s request.”
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